Desk



QFeb. l16 1926. A G. P. WIGGINTON mask Fired sept; 26, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 16 1926.

G. P. WIGGINTON DESK Filed sept. 26, ,1921l l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Elwowwap Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE I. WIGGIN TON I XALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 KALAMAZOO LOOSE LEAF BIN DEB CO., 0F K'ALAMA'ZOO, MICHIGAN.

DESK.l

Application led- September 28, 1921. Serial No. 503,124.

To all whom z't may concer/n.:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. VIGGIN'roN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at t-he city and county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in desks.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved desk especially adapted for use with machine bookkeeping or.-accounting which requires the handling of loose sheet-s and the elnployment of a binder or file equipment for handling the sheets, and also statements or loose slips containing other data.

Second, to provide an improved deskof the character described which, when open, Ifully exposes the accounting equipment which may be" arranged therein in proper relation for convenient work.

Further objects,` and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from thedetailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.4 The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

desk embodying the features of my invention with the top closed, a type-writing or accounting machine and sheet handling equipment with their supporting stands beving shown in operative relation thereto.

Fig. II is a vertical central section from front to rear, with the top erected.

Fig. III is a vertical section corresponding to Fig. II with the top collapsed.

Fig. IV is an 'enlarged detail section on a li ne corresponding to line 4 4 of Fig. V showing details of the top support.

Fig. V is a detail vertical section on a line 5 5 of Figs. IV and VII showing 5" structural details.

Fig. VI is an end elevation of the top inA erected position. D

Fig. VII is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding line of Fig.

Fig. I is a front perspective view of aI showing details of the top supporting and control mechanism.

Fig. VIII is a vertical longitudinal section of a desk embodying a modified form of my invention, the modification being in the top mechanism.

Fig. IX is a det-ail vertical section showing another modification or adaptation of my invention.

Fig. X is a front perspective view of a modified form of my invention in which the top sections are arranged to fold instead of being arranged to slide and collapse to a vertical position as in the embodiments shown in Figs. I to IX.

Fig. XI is a front perspective view of the In the drawing the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little. arrows at the ends of the section lines andL similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a main frame comprising a back wall l and end walls 2 projecting forwardly from the back walls. These walls are braced by the corner braces 3 which are arranged across the corners so as lt-o leave the space between the walls unobstructed to receive a typewriting or accounting machine stand A indicated by dotted lines in Fig. I, and a stand B, as is also indicated by dotted lines in Fig. I, to'support accounting records.

I provide a top made up of a plurality. of sections 4 connected edge to edge by hinges 5. These sections are of substantial width, there being three sections in the structure illustrated forming a complete top for the desk as shown in the drawings. These top sections are provided with rollers 6 travellingin the angled ways -7 on the end walls so that the top may be drawn forwardly to a substantially horizontal position as shown in Figs. I and II, or it may be collapsed to a vertical position as shown in Fig. III.

The rollers 6 are arranged in alinement with the hinges connecting the sections. The front top section is also provided with -rollers towards its forward edge while the rear top section has rollers disposed near its rear edge as shown in Fig. VI. With the to thereo: are eieotively guided in the ways thus supported the wide sectionsdesk shown in Fig. X with the top open.y

and swing around the angle thereof without binding.

The ends are provided with supports 8 upon which the front section rests when the top is in its erected position. This relieves the rollers of undue strain when heavy books are laid upon the desk top or the user leans upon the same as is likely to occur.

Across the top at the rear is a top board 9 having a rib 10 along its edge so that inkwells, pencils and the like are retained thereon.

IVhen the top is erected as shown in Fig. II the rear top section swings against the under side of this shelf or top board, and when collapsed the front top section swings against the front edge thereof as shown in Fig. III.

An inner wall 11 is disposed in spaced relation to the rear wall 1 providing a chamber into which ille top is collapsed. To assist in handling the top and to equalize the same, that is, prevent its binding in the ways, I mount a rod or shaft 12 in the bearings 13 at the rear of and adjacent the angle of the ways. On this rod are sprocket wheels 14, preferably fixed thereto so that they are rotated together. Sprocket chains 15 are secured to the rear top section and passed over these sprocket wheels, the free ends of the chains being preferably provided with weights 16 (see Fig. II) so that the chains are kept taut and in effective engagement with the sprocket wheels.

Coiled springs 17 are mounted on the rod with one end engaged with the sprocket wheels and the other with the counterbalance 18 so that when the top is collapsed these springs are placed under stress serving as a counterbalance and check for the top.

In the modification shown in Fig. VIII the pair of equalizing levers 19 are pivot? ally mounted on the back wall at 20 and connected to the ends of the chains or cables These levers are connected by a pin and slot connection at 22. A. spring 23 is connected to one of the levers so that the spring` acts as a counterbalance and checking means as in the embodiment described.

In lP ig. IX the chains or cables 21 are connected directly to springs 24 which serve as counterbalance means. It is not, however, necessary to journal the rod as I have found that in practice the sprockets may be mounted to rotate upon the rod, the coacting sprocket chains and springs serving as an effective equalizing means.

At one end of the desk I provide a drawer unit designated generally by the numeral 25. This unit is mounted on one end wall and has a supporting leg 26 at its innervend. This unit is spaced from the rear wall so that the top may be collapsed at lthe rear thereof, vand its top 27 is spaced from the main top Aso that the top 2T may be used for papers or the like and need not be disturbed when it is desired to erect the main top. The typewriting machine and record stands A and B are arranged in the space between this drawer section and the opposite end of the desk and the top may be erected and collapsed without moving these stands, thereby rendering the desk especially adapted for accounting purposes.

In the modifications shown in Figs. X and XI the top sections 28 are hinged together at 29 so that they may be folded one upon the other, the rear section being hinged to the back wall at 30. This modification is adapted to receive the accounting machine stand and record equipment the same as in the embodiments of Figs. I to IX but does not have the advantages of the sliding collapsible top.

I have illustrated and described my invention in severa-l embodiments which I have found satisfactory. I have not attempted to describe other adaptations as I believe the disclosures made will enable those skilled in the art to which my inventionrelates to adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a desk comprising a back wall and end walls extending forwardly therefrom, of a top comprising a plurality of sections hinged edge to edge, angular Ways on said end walls, rollers disposed at the ends of the top sections, the intermediate rollers being disposed in alignment with the hinges, the intermediate section being otherwise unsupported, a rod dis posed at the rear of and adjacent the angles of said ways, sprocket wheels on said rod, sprocket chains running over said sprocket wheels and connected to the top, and coiled springs mounted on said rod and engaged 111 with said sprocket wheels so that the springs are placed under stress on the collapsing of the top.

2. The combination in a desk comprising a back wall and end walls extending forwardly therefrom, of a top comprising a plurality of sections hinged edge to edge, angular ways on said end walls, rollers for the top sections, a rod disposed at the rear of and adjacent the angles of said ways, sprocket wheels on said rod, sprocket chains running over said sprocket wheels and connected to the top, and coiled springs mounted on said rod and engaged with said sprocket wheels so that the springs are. placed under stress on the collapsing of the top.

3. The combination in a desk comprising a back wall and end walls extending forwardly therefrom, of a top comprising a plurality of sections hinged edge to edge, angles of saidways, sprocket Wheels on said angular Ways on said end Walls, rollers d1srod, and sprocket chains running over said ,posed at the ends of the top sections, the sprocket wheels, and connected to the top. 10 intermediate rollers being disposed in align- In witness whereof, Iv have hereunto set 5 ment with the hinges, the intermediate secmy hand and seal.

tion being otherwise unsupported, a rod disposed at the Arear of and adjacent the GEORGE P. WIGGINTON. [L. s.] 

